FLASH #0

[ RUN TO THE SHOP ] 

Don't you love to read a good origin story? They're always full of valour, hope, and some glory. Unless the writer is a git. And he fills it full of sh*t. Like a rom-com which comes across as a bit gory. Not something that the great creative team of Francis Manapul, Brian Buccellato, or Publisher: DC Comics, would do in October 2012. Surely?

So what’s the STORY morning glory?

Believe it or not, being struck by lighting and dosed with electrified chemicals, hasn't been the worst thing scientist, Barry Allen, ever experienced in his life. Granted, it does leave him badly burnt and in a coma for a couple of days. Where as, on a more positive note, it does give him a bit of time to reflect on his parents past.

• You see, for years on end Barry has tried to prove in a court of law that his father didn't kill his mother when he was a small child.
• Yeah. It is a sad story on many levels.
• Thank God that recently promoted Lieutenant, Daryyl Frye, has been by Barry's side throughout this ordeal.    
• Moreover, thank God that this supercharged accident has given Barry some power and some direction in life too.

A beginning.

What is the most memorable SENTENCE OR CONVERSATION spoken in this issue?

As much as it felt like a 'throw away scene' compared to the rest of the story, I did find it funny when Barry 'Flashed-up', chased that car down the street, and...

CROOK ONE: Can't you make this thing go faster, Danny Boy?

DANNY BOY: You have a freaking machine gun! Hit him!

CROOK ONE: Hit what? It's like a freaking red blur!

FLASH: More like a 'Flash'. Took me forever to come up with that name.

Ha! For some strange reason the word 'freaking' made me laugh, because I wanted them to use 'f*cking' instead. Still, you can't win them all.

What was the BEST thing about this issue?

Now this might be just me, but one of the things I got a right kick out of whilst reading this issue, was the insinuation that there might have been something more to Daryyl Frye's relationship with Barry's mother. Well, it does seem highly possible that they could have been 'secret friend' perhaps? Plus a possible reason for her demise also?

Hmm? Food for though.

What was the WORST thing about this issue?

No. I can hardly think of anything I hated about this adventure at all. It was great. Although I would have liked to have seen Barry in a beard a bit more, and it would have been nice if Barry's relationship with Daryyl was fleshed out a tad as well.

Apart from that. Nope. This book is pure gold.  

What was the most CREATIVE thing about this issue?

STORY: I know that this may sound strangely perverse, but I did like the creative fact that Barry was in coma prior to him becoming the Flash. You see, in a strange way this event validates a sense of realism to his origin, making his 'condition' one of an incremental nature.

ART: In my most humble opinion this issue really did start off on a very poignant and dramatic visual tone. The monochromatic flash-backs. The splash-pages that enhanced the overall fleeting narrative. And a talking-head structure which was both personable and relevant to 'the origin story' in general.

Bravo Francis Manapul and Brian Buccellato. You're both class in a comic book.

If you had to CAST TWO CHARACTERS in this comic book, who would they be and why?

DARYYL: Now out of the pretty lads and lasses we all saw in the sci-fi television opus, 'Heroes', who was the one we liked the most? Correct. Hayden's Dad -- AKA Jack Coleman. He seems like a nice guy who can play it cool, whist keeping a deep dark secret at the same time, ha!

BARRY''S DAD: Hey! While I am in a 'heroes' mood, why don't I cast Malcolm McDowell to play Papa Flash? Doesn't he look like someone who'd kill his own wife? Allegedly.

If this issue had a MOVIE TAG LINE, what would it be?

Get Ready World, A Lab-Rat Has Changed His Spots To Stripes -- Speed Stripes.

If this issue were a MOVIE, an OBJECT, or a piece of MUSIC, what would that be and why? 

I can't help it. I wanted to delay using this musical reference until I read a story which I thought worthy of its rhythmical beat. So yes, I think that this issue of the Flash is like the overtly dramatic song sung by 'Queen' called 'Flash'.

Listen to the lyrics. It makes some sort of sense if you think about it.

FINAL thoughts...

Now I don't want to sound too judgmental or anything, but I found this issue illustrated just perfectly how a creator should have developed a 'zero issue'. Firstly, maintain most of the original spender. Secondly, add a level of realism that feels realistic. Thirdly, add a surprise or two which could be picked up later. And fourthly, for those pieces of continuity that are most probably being chucked away (because I didn't notice a Jay Garrick 'comic book' reference, did you?) leave it in the up in the air for future explanation.

It sounds simple, right? I just wished that most of the other bod's at DC thought the same as Francis and Brian did. No comment.

Oh! And on an end note, did you notice that the prisoner Barry stopped in prison was called Daniel West? You're not thinking what I'm thinking are you? Wally's return?

MARKS out of 10? 9